Tag: Circus Maximus

Godwin

  • Breaking things and Fruitcake

    In the spirit of breaking things, we took a break from Atilla’s Q-ing and had a Pigskin Q.

    We began by moving under the covered walkway. Fortunately, no injuries occurred (at the workout) before the standard disclaimer was issued.

    Warmup

    • 20 SSHs
    • 20 Imperial Walkers
    • 20 Ukrainian Soldiers
    • 10 Don Quixote

    The workout is a cumulative Ring of Fire. Each person gets to add a KB exercise.

    I started out with

    • 15 Swings OYO
    • Run to the end of the walkway, do 3 Burpees and return to the start

    Next

    • 15 Swings OYO
    • 15 Curls OYO (Fudd)
    • Run to the end of the walkway, do 3 Burpees and return to the start

    Next

    • 15 Swings OYO
    • 15 Curls OYO (Fudd)
    • 15 Upright Rows OYO (Lighthouse)

    The other exercises added with each ‘round’ were

    • 15 Hammers OYO (Offshore)
    • 15 Sit and Press OYO (Atilla)
    • 15 Bench Press OYO (Whitesnake)
    • 15 Squats OYO (Blue Moon)

    After everyone had a turn at calling an exercise, we ‘Deconstructed’ at each round, dropped an exercise.

    • Swings were dropped first
    • Then Curls were dropped
    • Then Upright Rows. I think we ran out of time after dropping the Upright Rows.

    Warm down

    • 15 Heels to Heaven in Cadence
    • Various Stretching exercises

    Announcement:

    • 2nd Tuesday, 2nd F, but this time at Joey’s Hot Dog in Innsbrook (near Firehouse Subs)

    We finished up with coffee, fruitcake, discussions of the electric grid (one of my favorite topics), well water, your own power supply, the threat from the Chinese government to the grid and Jones breaks.

  • Welcome to 20-25

    A strong turnout for the 1st KB workout of the 2025 calendar year.  11 men of iron assembled in the gloom to greet 2025.  Here is how it went down:

    • COP
      • SSH
      • IW
      • DQ
      • Helicopters
      • Arm circles
      • DMH
      • Jazzercise
      • Merkins
      • LBC
      • APD
    • Mosey to the picnic tables
      • 10 step-ups each leg; 20 sit ‘n presses; 10 step-ups each leg
      • 10 step-ups each leg; 25 sit ‘n presses; 15 step-ups each leg
    • Mosey to the bus loop
      • 20 overhead pulls
      • 20 presses
      • 20 lawnmower pulls, each arm
      • Run the bus loop
      • 25 overhead pulls
      • 25 presses
      • 25 lawnmower pulls, each arm
      • Run the bus loop
    • Mosey back to the grass
      • 20 high pulls
      • 20 PLT
      • 20 curls
      • 20 2x FK
      • 20 tricep press
      • 20 2x LBC
      • 25 high pulls
      • 25 PLT
      • 25 curls
      • 25 2x FK
      • 25 tricep press
      • 25 2x LBC
    • COT with YHC taking us out

    Great work from the PAX today.  Happy 20-25, it only took 45 minutes for Byproduct to see the pattern.  Welcome back Gaudi after his M had boy #2!  Great time being with the PAX, which started with a lot of mumble-chatter, and eventually died down as the reps picked up.  2025 is off to a great start!

    Fudd has the Q on the bridge this month.  Reach out if you want to join him.

    God is good all of the time!

    Attila

  • No Respect for Lighthouse

    With Attila feeling under the weather, the Circus Maximus Q was picked up by YHC.  We quickly established that Lighthouse was having a birthday, we had lower numbers than usual and most seemed to be running a little behind. 

    We kicked off COP with some arm circles, Cherry Pickers, then DQs, SSHs, Mt Climbers, WWIIs and CDDs. 

    With plenty of regulars out today, we utilized the space that is usually occupied by cars for…

    20 high pulls
    20 curls
    20 sit and press
    20 lawnmower pulls – all OYO
    Run the loop perpendicular to the usual loop
    3Xs

    Next, we placed our KB in front of the man to our left, then did 10 Goblet Squats with the bell now in front of us.  It can be very instructive to even just contemplate how it might be to walk a mile in another man’s shoes.  I thought we would leave this exercise (social experiment?) more enlightened about the load others have to carry and perhaps more grateful for our own burdens – but I think we just wanted our own bell back and to do the next exercise.  With bells down, we all rotated clockwise one spot.  Back to our own bells for 10 more Giblet Squats.  With nothing really learned, it was time to mosey. 

    Stop: 20 CDDs, OYO. 

    Continue: To the picnic tables for some Amandas.  While a Lindsey takes time and everything adds up to 40, an Amanda is like a Lindsey, but it’s a quickie (thx Whitesnake) where 20 is the magic number.  Step ups and Curls.  Then dips and jump squats. 

    Mosey to the bus drop-off lane.  Plank work while Lighthouse unplugged the coffee pot.  Dora time: P1 runs to the end of the bus lane and back while P2 does 50 Curls, 100 American Hammers and 150 Flutter Presses. 

    We abandoned our bells and all but Whitedeer ran to the same spot together.  Return back by Bear Crawling to the fire hydrant, then high 5ing Whitedeer, and lastly lunging back to ur bells for Mary (FMs, Heels to heaven, box cutters for Boxing Day, and a 6-inch-leg-lift-60-second hold).  Aaaaand time. 

    No BTTF today.  COT in the bus lane.  Cuz why not.  Numbers.  Names.  Announcements: 1/1 convergence at W Dog at 7am.  With hormones raging and pimples emerging, F3 pushes deeper into its teen years on the first of the year by turning 14. Prayers for healing for Attila (feel better soon buddy), and for all of those in the F3 family and extended family battling various ailments.   Prayers for God’s guiding hand and blessings upon Gaudi’s recently-expanded family (his son Sully is a week old today – hope Sully got what he wanted for Xmas). 

    Moleskin: KBs look really freakin’ cool with F3 stickers on them (I see you Pigskin & Lighthouse).  All present today play musical instruments, except for Lighthouse, who studied dance.  Who knew?!?  Shout out to CM-regular Fudd for his recent encouragement to Q.  I needed the push.  Also, Die Hard may be a Christmas movie but Heathers definitely is not. 

    PSA: Circus Maximus has gone from my least-favorite AO to probably my favorite.  We’ve got 1st F followed by coffee on site for 2nd F, and everyone knows the math: 1st F + 2nd F = 3rd F.  Come check out this AO if you never have. 

    “Love one another with brotherly affection.”   – Romans 12:10

  • A Festivus Miracle!

    A Festivus Miracle!

    A record 17 for the regular Thursday Circus Maximus AO including Tippecanoe!

    The story of Festivus: Many Christmases ago, I went to buy a doll for my daughter. I reached for the last one they had, but so did another man. As I rained blows upon him, I realized there had to be another way. What happened to the doll? It was destroyed. But out of that a new holiday was born. A Festivus for the rest of us.

    Before I went over the 5 key to Festivus, we did some warmups in honor of my favorite Seinfeld episode that featured opposite George. Because if every instinct I have is wrong, the opposite would have to be right. We did some reverse arm circles (10 big then 5 small), then some forward, then we put our arms all the way up and our legs together to start some opposite SSH. Some gravitated to normal SSH, White Deer did his normal weird ones and Chum was just lost. I think it broke him. We also did some other warmups including Ukrainian Soldiers, Flutters and Merkins.

    We reviewed as a group the 5 principles of Festivus. 1) There is an aluminum pole with no decorations (I find tinsel distracting). The pole was proudly displayed on the sidewalk. It’s made from aluminum. Very high strength-to-weight ratio. 2) It begins with the airing of grievances 3) Their is a meal 4) It ends with the Feats of Strength and 5) Be on the lookout for a Festivus miracle(s).

    The tradition of Festivus begins with the airing of grievances. I got a lot of problems with some exercises and now you’re gonna hear about it. We went around the circle and announced what exercise we had a problem with and then we all did 20 of such exercise. The Pax had problems with Sit and Presses (twice), Squats (twice), Pulse Squats, Burpees (10 reps, not 20), Swings, A lap around the bus loop, Waiter carry, Clean & Press, Russian Twists, Lawnmower pulls, Halos, Pull throughs (twice in a row, thanks Mr. Rogers), One legged deadlifts and a few others. 280 reps, 10 burpees, one lap and a waiter carry for a long walk and the grievances were complete.

    We had a little time for the Contest. The first contest was for me to explain the game Odds and Evens. Some Pax never heard of it, some knew but pretended not to understand just to hear me explain it poorly thrice times and others did not care. You should’ve seen the look on Handshake’s face! It was the same look my father gave me when I told him I wanted to be a ventriloquist. We then partnered up, played odds and evens (2 out of 3) and the winner did curls while the loser ran to the end of the lot and did 5 burpees. We did three rounds. The Pax was angry after that, my friends. Like an old man trying to send back soup in a deli.

    All right, everyone. It’s time for the Festivus feats of strength. Each member would duck walk with hands behind our back and try to knock over each Pax. Using your hands is illegal and you must stay inbounds. Last man “standing” wins. Let’s rumble!! Some opted out and then chaos and cheating ensued. Fudd was the last duck standing and is the 2024 champ. I am making a donation to the Human Fund on Fudd’s behalf! Chum, getting dumped on his face during the feats of strength, ended up crying.

    We then circled up for some Mary. We did Presses, LBCs & Flutters with the Bell.

    After circling up for prayer, we had coffee and for the Festivus meal I brought some black & white cookies (see, the key to eating a black-and-white cookie is you wanna get some black and some white in each bite. Nothing mixes better than vanilla and chocolate. And yet still somehow, racial harmony eludes us. If people would only look to the cookie… all our problems would be solved) and chocolate eclairs that were from the top of the trash, above the rim, on a magazine and still had the dolly on!

    Chum, whether still confused by the SSH or from taking the biggest fall, was not feeling well:

    Chum: I don’t feel so good.
    Pax: What’s wrong?
    Chum: My stomach. I think it was that cookie.
    Gypsy: The black-and-white?
    Chum: Yeah.
    Gomer: Not getting along?
    Chum: I think I got David Duke and Farrakhan down there.
    Seymore: Well, if we can’t look to the cookie, where can we look?
    Chum: Oh, my stomach! I feel like I’m gonna throw up!
    White Deer: Wait. What about your vomit streak?
    Chum: I know! I haven’t thrown up since June 29, 1980!

    Another Festivus in the books. Until next year when I am allowed to use the word “Annual”…

  • I’m sorry….did you say I’m on the Q sheet today?

    10 HIM posted for a Fudd Q today. It’s a good thing YHC decided to show up (slightly late).

    Pigskin started the PAX of in COP with various warm up exercises. YHC appeared at 5:35 and took over. After a few rounds of different exercises and stretches we moseyed to the front entrance while YHC brainstormed on what to do next…….

    Various rounds of exercises with laps around the circle in between: lawnmower pulls, flutters holding bell overhead, pulse squats, bench presses, reverse curls with presses, various stretches, and maybe some other stuff. I think we did 3 rounds…..

    Mosey to the bus loop for overhead pulls, sit and press, Freddie Mercuries, and maybe a few other things….run another lap

    Mosey to the picnic tables for 5 x step ups with each leg followed by 5 reps of clean and press with each arm. Then 6 reps of each and run half a lap around the circle. Then 7 reps of each, then 8 reps of each.

    Mosey back to the flag for swings and various Mary exercises until time was called.

    Numberama, Namerama, YHC took us out.

    NMS

    YHC was surprised to hear that his name was on the Q sheet for today when he showed up slightly tardy. YHC cannot remember signing up to Q but forgetfulness comes with age, or so I’ve heard. Regardless, the PAX got a decent workout despite the lack of planning. Coffee afterwards is always a treat…..many thanks to Offshore, Byproduct, and Whitesnake for providing all of the necessary accoutrements.

    Prayers for all in need of healing.

    Thanks for letting me lead today fellas.

    Never stop chasing the wabbitt!

    Fudd

  • Wake up and smell the coffee

    It was very windy today, and cold, so we immediately went over to the covered walkway and stayed there (other than the run around the Circus Maximus (bus loop).

    Disclaimer: Don’t leave here with more injuries than you came with.

    Warmup:

    • 20 SSH,
    • 15 IWs,
    • 10 Don Quixote,
    • Arm/shoulder stretch,

    Countdown:

    • 20 Upright rows, 20 Deep Mountain Climbers (double count), 18 Upright rows, 18 Deep Mountain Climbers, etc. down to 2 Upright rows, 2 Deep Mountain Climbers (double count)
    • Run around the island

    Partner up:

    • Partner 1 rifle carries their KB a short distance, does 5 burpees and returns
    • Partner 2 does the called exercise
    • 100 curls
    • 100 squats
    • 100 Triceps
    • Run around the island
    • Stretch

    Partner up again:

    • Partner 1 rifle carries their KB a short distance, does 5 burpees and returns
    • Partner 2 does the called exercise
    • 100 Swings
    • 100 Bench press
    • 100 Flutters with Bell held
    • Stretch
    • Run around island

    Finish

    • 20 Lawnmowers each arm OYO
    • 20 KB Lunges each leg OYO
    • 20 Overhead pulls OYO
    • 20 Hammers 2 count OYO
    • 20 Sit and Press OYO
    • 20 Heels to Heaven without bell in cadence
    • 20 APD in cadence
    • Stretch

    Back to the flag for numberama, namerama

    Announcements:

    Tuesday noon: 2nd F at Firehouse Subs

    COT

    Many years ago, there was an advice column called ‘Ann Landers’. “Ann Landers would use the phrase “wake up and smell the coffee”. She would often use this phrase when people seemed to be denying situations that made them uncomfortable or unhappy. For example, “Dear M&L: Wake up and smell the coffee, sister. If you think this guy is going to come back to you, you’re two sandwiches short of …” (copied from Google)

    Ann Landers is no longer with us. But you can still get advice from prayer.

    Prayers for Gypsy, Firehouse Subs (scratch that: make it Fireman Ed, Mollie (Roger Roger’s wife) and Mary (Fudd’s sister)

    Post workout coffee discussion: For two or three months, Offshore (today Mr. Rogers) has made coffee for us after the workout. There’s a percolator and we’ve found an outlet that is ‘hot’. Good discussions take place. The gender reveal for Gaudí’s second baby due around Christmas will come when the baby is born.

  • Head Treatments and a Dead Body

    11 muscled warriors including a Circus Maximus first timer showed up for a kettlebell workout. It was reported that a dead body was found the previous morning at the workout site. Whether such report is true may be a mystery. Given that the first timer at Circus was Handshake, the amount of mumble chatter went up. The chatter included a discussion about a PAX who shall remain nameless getting a treatment on his head. Well anyways here is the workout:

    COP: DQs, CPs, merkins, FMs and LBCs Mosey to Pump road side of school.

    E1: Death crawls which are bear crawls with coupon and at the curbs do 1 sit and press, crawl do 2 sit and presses up to 5 and back down to 1. Mosey slightly down the curb.

    E2: Triple check with bench press, overhead pulls and run to small tree left of the curb and back. Mosey to front parking lot.

    E3: Four corners with 10 burpees, 20 coupon squats, 30 high pulls and 40 curls for the ladies. mosey back to home base.

    e4: Sets of lawnmower pulls and calf raises. First set 5 each (per arm on lawnmower pulls), then 10 each, then 15 each. Mosey to home base.

    Finished with American hammers, coupon flutter kicks, heels to heaven, mountain climbers and some stretching.

    Announcements: Join gypsy and be part of the F3 team doing the Allianz Richmond Marathon next year. I swear there were other announcements but I forgot them. Prayers for Fudd’s sister Mary, Roger Roger’s wife and me (Fireman Ed). Thanks for letting me lead! What is wrong with the da$n Jets?

  • The Fart Duel of 2024

    The following AI generated story is a slight exaggeration of what happened this morning during White Deer’s Q. I don’t use AI in my Q writeups, only for White Deer.

    In a gym that time forgot, nestled between the mists of myth and history, there stood a rugged clearing surrounded by thick oaks and buzzing with strange anticipation. The air was rich with an improbable concoction of sweat, wildflowers, and the faint aroma of roasted chestnuts. It was here that a peculiar gathering took place: the legendary fart duel between Attila the Hun and the White Deer.

    The attendees were a motley crew, each one stranger than the last. Whitesnake, with their long hair and leather pants, were tuning their guitars, their riffs barely holding together against the dissonance of the bad country music already blaring from the speakers. Bedpan, the wiry jester with a wicked grin, whispered quips to anyone who’d listen. Offshore, a mysterious figure wearing sunglasses and a sailor’s cap, watched the scene with arms crossed, nodding along to the beat.

    Next to them, Lighthouse stood tall, beaming like a human beacon, his white robe swaying with the force of a nonexistent breeze. Pigskin, a burly fellow with a perpetual game face and cleats that dug into the dirt, did squats while muttering plays under his breath. Mr. Rogers, calm as ever in his iconic cardigan, offered quiet words of encouragement to everyone, including the participants. And finally, Gaudi, draped in colors that rivaled the most ambitious stained glass, sketched the scene on a scroll, arching eyebrows at every absurd twist.

    The center of attention, however, was the duel itself. Attila the Hun, mighty conqueror of the Huns, shirtless and muscled from kettlebell training, twirled his iron weight like it was featherlight. His eyes burned with the glint of a man who had faced battlefields but was now set to prove himself in an entirely different arena.

    Facing him was the White Deer, a mystical creature, whose coat shimmered like a cloud at sunrise. It pawed the ground with a mix of grace and anticipation, nostrils flaring slightly. This was no ordinary deer—it was said to be born of wind and moonlight, its flatulence capable of clearing forests or, on a gentler day, creating sweet breezes across meadows.

    The duel began. The kettlebells clanged like war drums as both Attila and the White Deer crouched in focus.

    Attila let out a fierce bellow, lifting a kettlebell above his head, muscles rippling. With a deep inhale and a defiant glare, he unleashed a sound that could have belonged to the storm gods—a guttural, thunderous blast that made the leaves above tremble and Pigskin lose his balance mid-lunge. The force reverberated through the clearing, bending tree branches and causing Bedpan to clutch his sides in awe.

    The White Deer, initially unfazed, raised its head. It shifted slightly, its elegant legs crossing like a dancer’s. A moment of silence fell over the clearing. Then, with the gentlest lift of its tail, the Deer responded. A sound followed—soft, melodic, almost like the whistle of a flute mixed with the chime of a distant bell. But instead of sweeping through the clearing in triumph, it faltered. The breeze that followed was mild, barely ruffling Gaudi’s bell.

    Attila’s eyes gleamed with the realization. He stepped forward, chest heaving, and raised his arms high. A second, more powerful burst emerged from him, louder and deeper than the first. The ground shuddered, and the leaves of the towering oaks fell like rain. Whitesnake stopped playing, their jaws dropping, while Pigskin hollered, “Touchdown, Attila!”

    The White Deer staggered backward, its eyes wide with the acknowledgment of defeat. Even the mystical shimmer of its coat dimmed slightly as it lowered its head, conceding with a graceful bow.

    Mr. Rogers smiled softly, approaching the Deer with a kind pat. “Even in defeat, there is grace,” he whispered.

    Attila grinned broadly, the pride of a conqueror mixed with the lightness of unexpected victory. He extended a hand, not to gloat, but in mutual respect. The Deer accepted with a gentle nod, eyes twinkling with the promise of future contests.

    Attila’s gaze softened, and his thoughts traveled back to his childhood. He remembered sitting at the foot of his grandfather’s grand hearth, the old man’s eyes twinkling beneath his furrowed brow. “Little Attila,” he’d say, with a grin as wide as the plains, “strength is not only in the sword, but in the breath. The art of wind is ancient, passed down from chieftains to warriors. Respect it, and it will serve you well.” The memory of those lessons, playful and absurd as they seemed, were woven into Attila’s life, shaping the warlord he became.  Teaching this gifts to Mariner will take time but will be time well spent.

  • Seeing How Lucky the Bus Loop Is

    Warm day and heavy metal (no music this week) greeted 9 KB warriors at the Circus.  It was a day to bring back a workout that we had not done in a while.  Here is how it went down.

    • COP
      • SSH
      • IW
      • DQ
      • Helicopters
      • Arm circles
      • DMH
      • Merkins
      • LBC
    • Lucky bus loop – stay under weight as we move around the bus loop, stopping at all 4 corners; 15 reps of an exercise, add a new exercise at each stop
      • 120 lawnmower pulls – each arm
      • 105 overhead pulls
      • 90 sit ‘n presses
      • 75 curls
      • 60 high pulls
      • 45 sumo squats
      • 30 2x hammers
      • 15 halos
    • Mosey back to the flag for some Mary
      • Side crunches each side
      • FK
    • COT with YHC taking us out

    Been a while since YHC did the lucky bus loop.  As always, seems easy on paper, but the cumulative impact is a killer.  Great fellowship from the PAX today.  Continued prayers for Fireman Ed, Gypsy and Fudd. 

    Happy 10 years to Fudd.

    God is good all of the time!

    Attila

  • Gunter gleiben glauchen globen.

    Gunter gleiben glauchen globen.

    Another great rock show in the back lot of Godwin. Wig participation was 13 strong, although some only lasted a few minutes until the heat or bad tasting rat hair resulted in a change. I was able to grab a setlist from the stage and it included the following:

    Rock of Ages: Def Leppard. Warmups to this classic (where the backblast title comes from for you Boomers or 20/30 somethings).

    Youth Gone Wild: Skid Row. Not sure the song would work as well with “Middle Aged Men Gone Wild”. We finished warming up to this song. Included some Flutter Kicks where EF Hutton’s kilt caught some extra glances from Attila.

    TNT: AC/DC. Curls beginning with the “Oi!” and alternating with Lawn Mowers, taking a little break during the guitar solo.

    Talk Dirty To Me: Poison. ‘Cause, baby, we’ll be, At the Godwin, near the old man’s Ford, Doing High Pulls, ‘Til I’m screamin’ for more, then do Burpees, Lock the cellar door, And, baby Talk dirty to me

    Balls to the Wall: Accept. No Bell. Wall sits with air presses or Elaines and then Walls to the Ball toe taps during the Chorus. What came first, this song or Pigskin doing his first Balls to the Wall?

    Love in an elevator: Aerosmith. Teapots (single leg deadlift) and Squats (going down…)

    Drop Dead Legs: Van Halen. More leg work. Swings and Lunges.

    You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’: Judas Priest. Partner up, one does Bear Crawls and Bernie’s back while the other does presses. Did this two times each.

    House of Pain, Faster Pussycat. I’m not trying to fake it, And Whitesnake ain’t the one to blame, There’s Sit and Presses In my house of pain. I didn’t write these pages, And my script’s been rearranged, Rotate to Triceps, In my house of pain

    Heaven: Warrant. Circle back up. For this final song and power ballad, hold the bell in rifle carry as long as you can while we rotated through ten reps of favorite kettle bell exercise. Rushed through this at the end but got to hear all two key changes in this 1989 hit.

    Thanks for everyone who made it out today. Thirteen is great numbers for Circus. Come on back!

    Prayers for Fudd’s sister Mary, Roger Roger’s wife Molly, Faceplant’s wife, Fireman Ed and Gaudi’s family.

    Didn’t play any GnR until coffeteria but will end with this great quote from Axel:

    “I’m not God but if I were God, ¾ of you would be girls, and the rest would be pizza and beer.”